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. 1982 Feb;69(2):479–482. doi: 10.1104/pp.69.2.479

Nodule and Leaf Nitrate Reductases and Nitrogen Fixation in Medicago sativa L. under Water Stress

P Aparicio-Tejo 1, Manuel Sánchez-Díaz 1
PMCID: PMC426234  PMID: 16662233

Abstract

The effect of water stress on patterns of nitrate reductase activity in the leaves and nodules and on nitrogen fixation were investigated in Medicago sativa L. plants watered 1 week before drought with or without NO3−. Nitrogen fixation was decreased by water stress and also inhibited strongly by the presence of NO3−. During drought, leaf nitrate reductase activity (NRA) decreased significantly particularly in plants watered with NO3−, while with rewatering, leaf NRA recovery was quite important especially in the NO3−-watered plants. As water stress progressed, the nodular NRA increased both in plants watered with NO3− and in those without NO3− contrary to the behavior of the leaves. Beyond −15.105 pascal, nodular NRA began to decrease in plants watered with NO3−. This phenomenon was not observed in nodules of plants given water only.

Upon rewatering, it was observed that in plants watered with NO3− the nodular NRA increased again, while in plants watered but not given NO3−, such activity began to decrease. Nitrogen fixation increased only in plants without NO3−.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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